Nicky Benson, developing courage to lead change with executives, teams and organisations

For Executives

‘My coaching sessions with Nicky are so valuable. With her guidance I’ve truly understood my strengths and value, and her coaching and support has helped me to make brave and exciting career decisions. I value Nicky’s authenticity, her pragmatism and her total commitment to my success.

- Merran Anderson , GM People and Culture IAG

I had the opportunity to work with Nicky during the 2015 year as part of the Global Woman Breakthrough Leadership Programme. Given my world is agriculture, and Nicky was so not agriculture, it was an interesting combination, but given I am writing this testimonial tells you she is a champion coach. It did not matter that our worlds were quite different, Nicky was my coach, it was all about her getting me to talk through my challenges, not about her having a connection with my world. Nicky is a very professional coach, she knows when to ask that challenging question and when to just listen. She is also a fun coach, somebody who laughs with you and also knows when to just be silent. Nicky and my path will not cross often, but when they do, we will re-connect with ease – the proof of a strong and supportive coach

- Charmaine O’Shea FCA DIRECTOR

‘In order to work on my personal resilience issues - I had to face some personal dilemmas that I thought I had successfully dealt with, but in reality - I had just buried. Nicky helped me through this and I now have the ability to deal with this issue, and have strategies to deal with other issues that may arise so that I can minimise the impact on myself (especially my energy levels), my family and my work environment. Nicky's guidance and support through the coaching sessions we had was invaluable. Thank you, Nicky.’

- Joanne Butler, Broker Partnership Manager, NZI.

Nicky is very intuitive and gets to the root of the situation very quickly in a highly subtle and clever way. She is a good listener and asks the right questions. I always felt comfortable in the sessions and always came away feeling I had learnt a great deal and felt much more informed and confident. She comes highly recommended from someone who used her services for over a year.’

- Helen Frith, Yealands Director of Sales: Asia/Africa/Middle East

'Nicky was my coach for a period of 6 months, during that time Nicky provided me with outstanding support and help, she provided open and honest feedback and was always willing to go the extra mile to ensure that I am successful with what I am doing. I found Nicky a very positive person, who genuinely cared, very enthusiastic and encouraging. I also found Nicky always available and approachable especially in those difficult situations where I needed assistance'.

'The results from this program both for individual team members and from the comments made by their peers have been out-standing. The tangible improvements in all areas addressed the confidence and skills it has provided the team with individually and as a group has been exceptional.'

- M. Burdon, Marketing Manager, Yellow Pages

“Chorus has had the pleasure of working alongside Nicky for a long time. She’s provided us with excellent advice and support with designing and facilitating training throughout the business. Her style is professional yet personable, she connects with everyone attending her courses and the feedback is always great. Our people use her methodology and approaches regularly - we’re a company that’s constantly evolving, and the tools she provides people to build their confidence, resilience and to help them to succeed through these exciting times has been incredibly beneficial. Thank you Nicky for all of your support over the years.”

- Claire Nolan | Learning & Development Advisor, Chorus

‘You have outstanding facilitation skills, know your topic and associated references really well and were able to introduce these as appropriate/ relevant rather than having absolutely fixed content. This made a challenging topic both thought provoking and personally challenging. So thanks…some things to take away and ponder.’

- K. Herbert, People and Performance Consultant, Consumer, Westpac

‘Nicky has been fabulous to work with - the team really enjoyed her change management workshops and I have appreciated her flexibility and willingness to tailor materials to meet our needs.’

'Nicky is an extremely skilled and insightful facilitator. The coaching workshops she delivered were invaluable and very well received by our internal participants.'

- Young-Sook Stewart, L&D, Ernst & Young

For Organisations

'On behalf of the New Zealand AIDS Foundation staff I thank you for your generosity in facilitating our Staff Hui this week. All the comments I have heard and all of the written feedback from the staff at the Hui has clearly noted your skill and good management of the process for the day. Many commented positively on the great energy your brought to the session. Helping us identify our 6 values was a stunning achievement (in half a day) – well done! Thank you so much for your time, guidance and expertise Nicky, you contribution made this the best Hui we have had to date.’

- Rachael Le Mesurier, Executive Director, NZ Aids Foundation

‘Nicky Benson is a fabulous facilitator and inspirational in her thoughts/values/approach’

- Heather Shaw - Telstra

Thanks again for all your help and guidance over the past years – you certainly are a very well researched and experienced “guru” in your chosen field and are one of the best facilitators that I have had the pleasure in knowing.- Brendan Boyle | Team Leader

‘The work you have done for us over the years has been outstanding. You have always been such a terrific facilitator and a lovely person to deal with Nicky.’

'We’ve engaged Nicky Benson for training, learning and motivational sessions with our team on several occasions. She’s an absolute professional who has a unique ability to impart knowledge and at the same time, extract the best from everyone taking part. The outcomes from her team building sessions have been extremely positive for our business and we’ve had unanimous positive feedback from the staff.'

- Dona White, CEO NORTH PORT EVENTS LTD

‘Nicky is a strategic thinker and leader with superb understanding of how to motivate and inspire diverse groups of people to achieve set goals. She blends and works in and on the community and business sectors with an insightfulness that will build the new collaborative working models we need for the decades to come.’- Faye Langdon, Trustee NZCSI